Overview

M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation specializes in unique, technical challenges. From process plants to telescope facilities, M3's clients tend to assign their most challenging projects to M3. Since its inception in 1986, M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation has provided architecture, design engineering, procurement, manufacturing and construction services for industrial, institutional, public and commercial projects. The common parameters for these domestic and international projects are unique technical challenges.

Pat Dugan, Chief Engineer of the M3 Phoenix office, was an early PIPE-FLO adopter and has been using the product since the late 1980’s. In that time period he has used the program on hundreds of projects, mainly for large mining operations.

M3 faces many challenges when working on large mining projects as they work with tremendously complicated systems under conditions that change over time.

The Challenge

Pat’s major use for the PIPE-FLO program is designing complex leaching systems for copper and gold operations in North and South America. These leaching systems are extremely complicated as they involve multiple pumping stations into branching piping systems that cover many acres with different sections operating at different times. In addition, conditions change over the years as the elevation rises as material is added.

PIPE-FLO's Solution

The PIPE-FLO program allows users to model and simulate various operating conditions and this has been a major benefit to M3. Pat also analyzes pipelines with tailings slurry and by using the fluid editor function he can create the actual fluid rheology for the model to ensure the accuracy of the simulation.

"An enormous advantage is the speed in which 'what if' situations can be calculated for during preliminary designs," Dugan said.

"The time required is a fraction as compared to manual calculations, but more important, the system can be analyzed to a point that is not realistically possible using manual methods," Dugan added.

The ability to analyze systems and simulate different operating conditions has allowed M3 to save time and money in both system design and troubleshooting. In addition, the ability to change the model in PIPE-FLO to match current conditions assures that M3 will always have a clear picture of how the system was designed to operate. Once they have an updated version of the model, the company is able to compare this to what is happening in the field and make necessary changes.

"I was once able to determine that one pump in a 5 mile water pipeline in Argentina with 3 pump stations had the wrong impeller trim by comparing field measurements under various operating conditions to the PIPE-FLO model, without leaving my office," Dugan said.

The ability to communicate with the newest versions of PIPE-FLO has also been an added benefit for M3. After using the model to assess current situations, "the report output can be put directly into a presentation," Dugan said.

"I have used PIPE-FLO on hundreds of projects over the past 15 years, and I have been able to save time and money by accomplishing what couldn’t be done manually or with spreadsheets," Dugan added.